May 4 Who’s King in Newsela’s Animal Kingdom?

Newsela has done plenty of stories on animals. From fascinating science explorations of the earwax of whales and the rights of orangutans, to heartfelt feature stories about guide dogs and Navy-trained dolphins — we’ve covered it all. Twitter and analytics tell us that students love animals, but we wondered just which animal they liked best. We gathered up our furry, scaly and feathery friends and tried to find out who was most popular. Here’s what we found:

Cute and cuddly dogs are always a hit with kids and this story touches on a note many students can relate to — how can I help my dog live forever? Through a relatable problem, the story informs students about cell growth, what aging actually is and attempts made by scientists to prevent or slow it.

At first glance, one might think this was a Shark Week article based on the title. But reading on will show that the story is also about the sharks’ diminishing ecosystem and Hawaii’s reliance on tourism to support its economy.

Animal lovers could not resist the great picture accompanying this story. Past the adorable photo of a wolf pup yawning is an update on what scientists are learning about empathy between animals — particularly wolves and dogs.

Again, a story about a 10-year-old polar bear named Koda engages students. However, teachers can use this article to present how climate change poses a threat to the polar bear population, both physically and mentally.

Finally, we get to the king of Newsela’s animal stories: the powerful, majestic, beautiful — turtle? Yes, our turtle stories are incredibly popular and this one presents a zoological mystery. The story investigates how sea turtles are able to travel thousands of miles and navigate back to the beaches where they were hatched in order for them to have their own babies there.

Through turtles, puppies, sharks and bears, Newsela educators can teach their students about economics, climate change, basic biology and more.

Which animal story has been most popular in your classroom? Let us know on Twitter.

Bringing the written word to life is our jam. So we created the Newsela Instructional Content Platform. It's the only platform purpose-built to get students not just reading but truly engaged with every word. Students and teachers rejoice.

Bringing the written word to life is our jam. So we created the Newsela Instructional Content Platform. It's the only platform purpose-built to get students not just reading but truly engaged with every word. Students and teachers rejoice.